Improvement in harvesters



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sim-TES JAMES H. KIRTON, OF ROGKFORI), ILLINOIS.

IMPROVEMENT IN HARVESTERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 162,929, dated May 4, 1875; applicalion filed December 1, 1874.

To all whom yit may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES H. KIRTON, of Rockford, in the county of Winnebago and State of Illinois, have invented a new and 'useful Improvement in Harvesters; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

Figure 1 represents a perspective view of the improved harvester, taken from the rear stubble corner of the machine.` Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the grain side ofthe platferm. Fig. 3 is a plan viev'v ot' the machine.

Fig. 4 represents a vertical longitudinal sec! in his seat on the machine, and while the machine is in operation, to regulate, at will, the

height of the main frame and platform, and

the consequent height of the cutters, above the ground, and also the angle of inclination of the platform and cutters, as hereinafter explained. It further consists in a novel construction of the stationary cam, which imparts the reciprocating movements to reel-rake, and to the combination therewith of a novel means foractuatin g and guiding the movements of said rake. It further consists in the combination,

with the reciprocating grain receptacle, of means for actuating the same automaticallyT and at regular intervals; and, lastly, the invention consists in certain detail of construction and arral'igement, hereinat'ter fully set forth.

In the accompanying drawing, A represents the rectangular main frame; A1, the platformframe, rigidly connected with the main frame by voblique or downwardly-inclined bars A2 in front and rear. Within the rectangular main frame is placed a vibrating stirrup-frarne, B, made in loop or U form, with its open end in advance, and mounted and turning upon the counter or pinion shaft a. In rear of the pinion-shaft, and in suitable bearings in the frame B, is secured the axle b, upon which the main ground and drive wheel Bl is mounted, and from which motion is imparted to the pinionshaft a through the usual spurred rim and pinion. The vibrating rear end of the loopframe B is provided on its outer face with a toothed vertical segment, b', curved in the arc of a circle of which the pinion-shaft is the center. In rear of the loop-frame, and in suitable bearings in the main frame, is mounted a rock-shaft, c, upon which is rigidly secured a forwardly-facing toothed segment, C, curved in the arc or a circle, of which the rock-shaft c is the center, and the teeth of which engage with the teeth of vsegment b', as represented in Fig. 4. The shaft c at its inner end extends through the inner longitudinal frame-bar, and has rigidly connected with it a crank-arm, c', the outer swinging end of which is provided with a pin or spur, and a cord attached thereto and passing over a grooved stationary segment, D, is connected at its forward end with thelower end of a lever, D', by the vibration of which the loop-frame B is vibrated relatively to the main frame for adjusting the height of the latter, as described.

The lever D is held at any desired point of adjustment by means of any usual or preferred construction of toothed or perforated rack and spring bolt or latch. The outer longitudinal bar ot' the platform-frame is slotted vertically, or made in two parts, to accommodate between them the grain-wheel E, which has its axle secured in bearings in avibrating frame, El, which is pivoted, at its forward end, to the forward end of a slotted frame, E3, mounted and sliding on the slotted outer bar of frame A1. The frame E3 is secured to and made adjustable longitudinally upon said frame-bar by means of bolts passing through the slot therein, and held by clamping plates and nuts at EX, which permit the forward and backward adjustment ot the wheel for balancing the weight of the platform frame and its attachments, for facilitating the adjustment ot' the angle ot' said frame or the height ot' cut.

rlhe frame E1,near its rear end, is provided with a friction-roller, which rests against the forward face of a standard, E2, curved in the arc of a circle, of which the pivot at the forward end of the frame E1 is the center, the rear ends of the longitudinal bars of said frame overlapping the sides of the standard, and preventing lateral play or movement of the frame. rlhe standard E2 is forked or slotted at its lower end, and is provided with horizontal flanges or feet, by means of which it is bolted to the rear bar or frame E3. Within the slot is placed a grooved vertical pulley, el, and a cord,f, connected at one end with the rear end of the vibrating wheel-frame El, passes underneath the pulley e1, and thence around `a horizontal pulley, e2, at the rearv outer corner of the platform-frame Al. Along the rear of said frame, and under a vertical pulley, c3, mounted in a standard at the inner end of said frame, and thence up to the upper end of a grooved sector, cx, rigidly secured to the crank-arm o at or near midway of the length of said arm.

VThe operation of these parts will be readily understood. As the crank-arm is raised by means of the lever D for depressing the segment C and frame B, as above explained, it carries the segment eX upward with it, and this drawing upon the cord f depresses the rear end of the frame E1 relatively to the platform-frame A1, and raises the outer end of the latter simultaneously with the raising of the main frame and inner end of said plat-form.

The tongue F of the machine is pivoted at its rear end upon the pinion-shaft a, or upon a sleeve-bearing therefor, projecting on the inner side of the main frame, the inner longitudinal bar of said main frame extending some distance forward of said pinion-shaft, with the tongue resting snugly against it. F is an angular brace, connected rigidly with the tongue in advance of the main frame, extending thence obliquely outward to the outer front corner of said frame. It passes thence by the side of said frame, and is pivoted thereto in line with the shaft or pivot a of the tongue, this arrangement of the brace preventing lateral play of the tongue, while in no way interfering with its free vertical movement. The forward end ofthe inner longitudinal framebar has a toothed segment, g, rigidly connected with it, curved in the arc of a circle, of which the pinion-shaft and tongue-pivot ais the center. Upon the tongue F, in advance of the segment g, is pivoted a lever, G, provided with a toothed segment, g', facing to the rear, with its teeth engaging with those'of segment g, the forward end of the tongue being supported at a fixed height in the neck-yoke of the team. A backward or forward vibration of the lever serves to depress or raise the forward end of the frame, rocking it upon the wheels B and E, and depressing or raising the points of the guards of the cutting apparatus, as the condition of the crop or the nature of the surface of the ground may require.

rlhe pinion-shaft a extends inward beyond the main frame, and at its inner end is supported in a bearing in a forked standard, H,

mounted upon the inner end of the platformframe. Near its front corner, and just inside of this bearing a bevel-wheel, I, is mounted loosely on the shaft a, said bevel-wheel being connected therewith, when the machine is in operation, by a sliding clutch, t', feathered to said shaft a, and from this bevel-wheel motion is imparted to all the operative parts of the machine. A sprocket-wheel at fil, formed upon or connected with the sleeve of said wheel, operating through a chain, z'x, imparts motion to a similar wheel on the inner end of the rake and reel shaft, arranged in advance of and above the shaft a, and the bevel-wheel I engages with and drives the bevel-pinion I1 on the crank-shaft al, from a crank on the forward end of which motion is imparted to the sickle. The crank-shaft has its bearings in the standard H, and in rear of its rear bearings is provided with a sprocket-wheelat 2, from which a chain, passing around a similar pulley ati? on thefront end of theinner shaftof the endless band platform, or horizontal rake, imparts motion to said rake. The crank-shaft al, at. its rear end, is further provided with a pinion, which engages with and drives a pinion, 12, on the forward end of the lower shaft of the elevator, imparting motion to said shaft, and thence, through sprocket-wheels, to the endless chains carrying the elevator-rakes. The shaft ol of the elevator, at its rear end, is armed with a pinion, 4, from which motion is imparted to the cam-wheel J, and thence to the reciprocating grain-receptacle, as hereinafter explained.

It will thus be seen that all the operative parts are connected with the bevel-wheel on the pinion-shatt,and that by simply discon` necting said Wheel from its shaft by the withdrawal of the sliding clutch all of said operative parts will be thrown out of action, thereby greatly facilitating the process of preparing the machine for removal from place to place, or for repairs.

'lhe reel-shaft is mounted in bearings in adjustable standards, and upon the inner face of one of these standards is secured a stationary cani-plate, K, surrounding the reel-shaft, and provided on its vertical face with a horizontal flange or rib, 7c, curved in an arc extending through two hundred and forty degrees to two hundred and seventy degrees, more or less, of a circle concentric with the reel-shaft, and broken or cut away underneath said shaft, as shown. The form of the plate K at this point is eccentric, and at its lowest part said plate is provided with a lug or spur, k1, in the form of an inverted V. The reel may be of any usual construction, except that the arms l upon one side, upon which the sliding reel-rake is mounted, at the end connected with the reelshaft, are forked, and the arms of the fork also diverge laterally, so as not only to clamp the shaft firmly between them, but also to prevent lateral movement. The arms terminate in a cylindrical rod, which is curved at its outer end, as shown, and upon these rods are mounted jointed rods Z1 Z2, forming the rake-stale, and

to the curvature in the outer ends of the arms Z. The inner ends of the parts or sliding links llhave each one end of a connecting-rod, Z4, attached to it, the other ends of said rods being connected to crank-arms L, secured to a rock-shaft, L', mounted in bearings on the arms Z, or in independent arms connected with the reel-shaft, as preferred. Upon the inner end of this rock-shaft, adjacent to the cam K, is secured a triangular block or shoe, m, curved on one face m1 in an arc of a circle conforming to the peripheryT of the circular rib 7c, and moving in contact therewith.

The outer angle m2 of the block is provided with a spur, which, after the block or shoe has movedl over the cam K, and passed off at one end thereof, strikes the lug or spur kl, causing the shoe to be partially rotated, carrying the rock-shaft L with it, and this movement, acting through the crank-arms L, links Z4, and slides Z1 Z2, moves the rake outward from the reel-shaft with sufficient rapidity to keep it in close proximity with the inclined platform, on which the grain falls, for removing such grain therefrom. The curve in the outer ends of the rods Z serves to deiiect the rake-head from a line radial to the reel-shaft sufficiently to keep the rake-teeth at about right angles to the plane upon which the straw or grain rests up to the point of discharge, and, consequently, prevents the straw from becoming entangled with said teeth, and thus carried onward in the further revolution of the rake-head. After the rake has been thus moved outward to discharge the grain, the shoe m, having passed the spur k1, comes in contact with the end k2 of the rim or rib k, and its rocking movement is thereby reversed, withdrawing the rake toward the reelshaft until it assumes about the position or relation of an ordinary reel-beater, when the curved face being brought against the periphery of the rim lc, it travels thereon until, havin gperformed the work of a gatherer or beater, it again reaches the platform, and begins its discharging or raking movement, as before. A

A single rake is shown applied tothe reel, so that the grain will be discharged only once in each revolution of the reel; but others may be added for increasing the frequency of the rakingaction, if desired. y

The grain discharged by the reel-rake is received upon a rear horizontal platform, M1, slightly elevated, so as to bring it into about the same horizontal plane with the rear edge of the inclined receiving platform M. rlhe platform M1 is slotted transversely, or at ri glitangles to the path of the machine, and underneath this slotted platform are two shafts, one at each side or end, provided with sprocket- ,een 3 wheels or pulleys, carrying endless chains, to which rakes are connected at regular intervals, the teeth of which project upward through the slots in the platform M1, and serve, by their movement, to carry the grain to the inner or main frame end of said platform.

rlhese rakes are set and timed relatively to the reel-rakein such manner as to remove the. grain from the platform M1 inthe intervals between the discharge of grain by the reelrake, thereby avoiding contiict or the entangling of the grain between the two. At the rear of the platform M1 is is a vertical guard, M2, rising above said platform, and preventing the grain from being thrown beyond said platform by the action of the reel-rake, and to the upper edge of said guard a board, N, is hinged by its rear edge, said board overhanging the platform M1, as shown in Figs, 1, 2, and 3, sufficiently raised above said platform to permit the free ingress between it and the platform of the grain discharged by the reelrake, said cover or board N serving to assist the rear guard M2 in keeping the grain in compact shape. rlhe board N can be turned back or up into a vertical position, and removed to afford access to the platform M.

At the inner or main frame end ot' the plat-A form M1 is secured the lower end of an inclined elevator-table, O, grooved or corrugated on its upper face, and connected at its lower end with the platform M1 by curved metallic straps, which serve as cle'arers to the teeth of the platform-rake, and also to transfer the grain from said platform to the lower end of the table O. The table O is secured between inclined bars O1, which, at their lower ends, rest upon the platform M1 or platform-frame, and at their upper outer ends are secured to uprights O2 on the main frame. At the upper and lower ends of this elevator-frame, and in suitable standards or straps secured thereto, are mounted shafts 0 o, provided in front and rear with sprocket-wheels 02, over which pass endless chains p carrying rakes P attached to and moving with said chains, and to which motion is imparted by the pinion 011 the forward end of shaft o1, as heretofore explained.

rlhe teeth of these rakes P enter the grooves in the table O in their movement upward over said table, and carry the grain received from the platform M1 upward and outward over the drive-wheel, discharging it at regular intervals upon a curved or inclined shield, Q, over which the grain descends into a concave receptacle, R. The receptacle l is formed of a series of concave plates, r r1 r2, connected at their inner sides with a sliding bar, Bl, and is of a length equal to, or greater than, double the length of an ordinary bundle of grain. The central longer portion r2 of the concave receptacle, centrally of its width, is provided on its lower face with pendant lugs or ears s, in which is mounted a grooved roller, s', resting and moving longitudinally on a bar or track, S, attached to the binders platformframe, or to the inclined braces S', thereof, so

as to give the bar the oblique position shown, in which its upper angle enters the groove in the roller s', and serves as the way on which said roller moves. The bar R1 is provided on its upper face with a tongue which matches a corresponding groove ill a bar, R2, secured to uprights on the main frame, directly over the bar R1; or Vfriction-rollers may be substituted for the tongue, if preferred, to facilitate the endwise movement of bar R1. Tile bar R2 is lnortised vertically near its rear end, and has grooved `pulleys mounted in the mortise, and between said pulleys the ends of a cord, t, are passed, one elld extending toward alld being connected with the rear end of bar R1, and the other toward the front end of and connected with said bar, the cord or the loop thereof passing upward over a grooved pulley, t1, near the top of the elevator-frame, and one side of said loop being connected with a vibrating arln or lever, T, through which the reciprocating movements are communicated to the grain-receptacle R, as will be explained.

The lever T is pivoted at t2 to the rear face of the elevator-frame, and its heel-extension beyond said pivot is provided with a rearwardly-projecting spur and friction roller, which enter a cam-groove, j, in the forward face of the spurred cam-wheel J, hereinbefore referred to, and by the rotation of which 'a vertical vibration at reglllar illtervals is imparted to the lever T. rThe vibra-tion of the lever takes place in the eccentric portions j2 f2 of the cam-groove, the lever remaining at rest inthe intervals between said eccentric portions, and while the roller passes through the concentric portions j3 j4 of the groove, the intervals heilig' about equal at each end of the throw or vibration oi' the lever-this effect being due to the fact that the concentric arcs 7'3 alld j* extend through about the same illimber of degrees, though formed in arcs of circles of different diametersthe lever T, thus vibrated, acting through the cord t, moves the bar R1, alld the receptacle R conllected therewith, alternately forward and backward in such a manner that the grain discharged intermittently by the eleva-tor-rakes is alternately deposited in the forward and rear ends of said receptacle, which is of suiiicient length to accommodate two gavels or bundles placed end to end, and the longitudinal movement of said receptacle is suti'icient to cause the bundles or gavels to be received alternately in said relation to each other. The elevatorrakes may be placed at such a distance apart as that one, two, or lnore will carry up the quantity of grain required to form a bundle, and said rake and the receptacle being geared together, as described, will be timed by the relative sizes of the gears, so that the receptacle will remain stationary at either end of its throw until a sufficient quantity is received to forln a bundle. when the endwise movement carries the bundle on the forward end of the receptacle in front of the binder on seat U, who binds or partially binds it while a gavel is accumulating .on the rcar end, removing it as the reverse movement ot' the receptacle begins, carrying the bundle on the rear end thereofin front of the binder on seat U, to be bound by him, while another gavel is being deposited at the forward end. The binders stand or platform Vis secured to arms or bars V attached to the main frame, and the seats U U are secured thereon as showll.

Parts of the machine not particularly described lnay be of any usual or preferred construction.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. The vibratin g frame B, ill which the driving-wheel is mounted, pivoted on the pinionshaft, and provided at its swinging end with the toothed segnlentb, in combination witll the segment G, mounted on the rock-shaft c, and operated by means of the crank-arm c', cord cx, and lever Df, arranged alld operating as described.

2. The crank-arln c', which operates the segment C and wheel-frame B, as described, provided with the grooved sector e", and couneeted, by means of the cord f, with the vi-y brating grain-wheel frame El, said parts being combined and operating substantiallyT as described, for simultaneously raising both sides of the machine.

3. The pivoted vibrating wheel-frame El, arranged and operating as set forth, ill coin- 'bination with the sliding frame E3, made adjustable on the platform-frame A1, substantially as and for the purpose described.

4. The stationary cam -plate K. provided with the curved way k and spur k1, in combination with the traveling block or shoe m, for actuating the reel-rake through the connecting crank alld links, as described.

5. The hinged guard or cover N, connected to the vertical guard or fender M2, and overhanging the platform Ml, as described.

6. Tile reciprocating grain receptacle R, adapted to receive and support the gavels alternately upon its opposite ends, in combination with the cord, lever, and caln, substantially as described, for automatically reciprocating the receiver, in the manner alld for the purpose set forth.

7. The reciprocating grain-receptacle R, slipported alld guided by the grooved roller s, and the longitudinal rails or tracks S and R2, arranged as described.

S. The cam-wheel J, provided with the calngroove, formed substantially as set forth, in combination with the lever alld cord, or their equivalents, for automatically operating the grain-receptacle, as described, whereby intervals of rest are given to said receptacle at each end of its throw, for the purpose specified.

This specification signed and witnessed this 25th day of November, 1874.

Vitnesses: JAMES H. KIRTON.

G. W. FORD, JAMES KIRToN. 

